Cable-grip



(No Model.)

G. A. CARRERAS.

v VCABLE GRIP.

No. 405,145. Patented'June 11, A889.

N. PETERS. vnomlinmgmphar. wnshingmn, l)A C.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. OARRERASVOF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CABLE-GRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 405,145, dated June 11,1889.

Application led February 27, 1889. Serial No. 301,380. (No model.)

To all whom it nul/y concern.:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. CARRERAS, of the city of St. Louis, in theState of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inCable-Grips, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, and in which- Figure I is a side elevationof my improved grip. Fig. II is an edge view. Fig. III is a detailtransverse section taken on line III III, Fig. I. Fig. IV is a detailvertical section taken on line IV IV, Fig. I. Fig. V is a simi lar viewtaken on line V V, Fig. I. Fig. VI is a detail side view showing thejaws open. Fig. VII is a detail edge -view showing the jaws open andmodified.

My invention relates to an improved grip for street-cars; and myinvention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described,and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, l represents a U-shaped frame, to the lowerend of which the upper jaw 2 is secured.

represents a die dovetailed into the upper jaw.

Fitting and sliding within the frame l are plates 3 and 4, securedtogether by bolts 5. To the lower end of the plate 3 the lower jaw 6 issecured by means of rivets or bolts 7, and into this jaw a die 8 isdovetailed.

As shown in Fig. II, the plate 3 passes upward through vthe center ofthe upper jaw 2, and there is preferably a die 3% on each side of thejaw 2 and a corresponding die S on each side of the jaw 6. In this waythe grip may take the cable 9 on either side.

In Fig. VII, I have shown a single instead of a double grip, or a griphaving dies on one side of it.

11 represents a cross-head through which the upper plate 4 passes, andwhich is secured to the frame 1 by means of two pairs of bolts l2 oneach side of the grip.

The frame l is divided, as shown by dotted lines 13. Secured to thecenter of the cross head is a strap 14, in which the lower end of ascrew 15 is stepped, as shown in Figs. I and IV. The screw passes up toand through a cross head or bar 16, secured to the upper end of theplate 4, and it also passes upward and through the frame l, and hasabove the frame a fixed collar 16 and below the frame a fixed collar 17.On the upper end of the screw is a hand-wheel 1S. It will thus be seenthat as thc screw is turned in the proper direction the lower jaw willbe made to approach the upper jaw to grip the cable, as shown in Fig. I,and when the screw is turned in the other direction the jaw is throwndown to release the cable. It may be moved down only sufiiciently torelieve the cable, or it may be thrown down as tar as shown in Fig. VI,for the purpose of getting beneath and picking up the cable. p

On the screw l5 is a ratchet-Wheel 19, engaged by one end of a pawl 20,pivoted at 21 to the frame 1. To the outer end of the pawl 2O is securedthe upper end of a rod 22, the

lower end of which is made fast to a foot-lever 23, pivoted at 24 to theframe. The rod passes through a bracket 25, secured to the frame l, andit has on it a fixed collar or shoulder 26. Between the shoulder 26 andthe bracket 25 is placed a spring 27. The action of this spring is tohold 'the pawl into engagement with the ratchet, so that the jaws may beheld firmly against the cable in running long distances without keepinghold of the handwheel 1S, the screw being prevented from turning bymeans of the pawl and ratchet. If it is not desired to use the pawl andratchet, the former may be held out of engagement with the latter bymeans of a pin 28 passing through a hole 29 in the pawl and a hole 30 inthe frame l.

The entire grip is mounted by means of journals or arbors 3l in boxes32, secured in any well-known manner t0 the car. By thus mounting thegrip it is capable of being swung laterally or in a horizontal plane forthe purpose of bringing its jaws into contact with the cable, which maybe swung a little to one side of the jaws when said cable diverges fromthe straight line.

For the purpose of holding the grip in a vertical position and yetpermitting it to be swung horizontally,l when desired to take hold ofthe cable, as described, I use a sliding dog or bar 34, secured to theframe l by means of strips 35, and engaging at its lower end a notchedstrip or plate 36. (See Fig. II.) Secured to the upper end of the bar ordog is a IOG spring hand-piece 3S. It will thus be seen that by pressinginwardly on the handle 38 the dog will be raised out of engagement withthe notches of the plate 3G, and the grip is then capable of being swungin a horizontal plane for the purpose mentioned. Then, by bringing itback to a vertical position and allowing the dog or bar to enter thecentral notch on the plate 36, the grip will be held in its verticalposition.

In some cable roads the conduit does not extend into the car stables orsheds, so that it becomes desirable to remove the grip from the conduitto permit the car to be run into the shed. For this purposeI divide theframe l by means of the cross-head 1l and bolts 12, as stated, and theplates 3 4t are provided instead of making a single plate. The plates 34. are connected by the bolts 5, as stated. Now, by removing one pair ofthe bolts l2 on each .side of the grip and by )'emoving the bolts 5 itwill be seen that the lower part of the grip will bc separated from theupper part, and may be taken out through the usual. well, while the car,carrying the upper portion of the grip, can be run into the shed.

For the purpose of forming turning-bearings for the cable when notheldiirmly by the jaws, I journal outer rollers 40 and a central roller4l to each end of the upper jaw 2, these rollers being preferably madeconical and extending down beyond the line of the cable when engaged bythe jaws. These rollers are placed vertical, and are simply held to thejaw by means of stems 42 thereon passing through the jaw and heldtherein by keys 425. rIhis is shown plainly in Fig. II. On the lower jaw(5 are journaled pulleys all, to support the cable vertically when notfirmly grasped by the jaws.

Al5 represents a roller journaled in the bottom of the lower jaw, toreceive the impact of any obstruction against which the grip might comein contact.

The pulleys 4:4 are set one-eighth of an inch above the lower die, inorder to carry the cable free of said die when the dies are not incontact and the grip is open.

I claim as my inventionl. A cable-grip provided with arbors,journal-boxes in which the arbors fit, and a dog and notched plate forholding the grip in a Ver tical position, but permitting it to be swungon a horizontal plane, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a cable-grip, the combination of the frame l, upper jaw secured tothe frame, plates 4, and lower jaw secured to the plate 3, the frame lbeing divided and eon nected by a cross-head and bolts, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

3. In a cable-grip, the combination, with the frame and the upper jawsecured to said frame, of the sliding plates, the lower jaw carried bysaid plates, a cross-head attached to said plates, and an upright screwstepped in said cross-head for raising and lowering said lower jaw,substantially as set forth.

4. In a cable-grip, the combination of the frame, an upper jaw carriedby the frame, sliding plates, lower jaw carried by the plates, a screwfor operating the plates, a ratchet secured to the screw, and aspring-pawl l'or engaging the ratchet, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a cable-grip, the combination of the frame, upper jaw secured tothe frame, sliding plates, and lower jaw secured to the plates, a screwfor raising and lowering the plates, ratchet-wheel secured to the screw,pawl engaging the ratch et-wheel, a rod secured to the pawl, a leverpivoted to the frame and to which the lower end of the rod is secured, aspring 27, for forcing the pawl into engagement with the ratchet, and apin 28, for holdin g the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet andagainst the action of the spring, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

0. In a cable-grip, the combination of the upper and lower jaws, rollers40 and 4l, secured to the upper jaw, and rollers 44, secured to thelower jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EDW. S. KNIGHT, THos. KNIGHT.

`JARRERAS.

